Atlanta United back above playoff line

Gregersen’s goals are the club’s first two from set pieces this season. According to whoscored.com, they are the last MLS club to score from set pieces this season.

“I think it was a team goal,” Gregersen said. “Jay (Fortune) made some incredible blocks for me that allowed me to get out there and score, and Saba (Lobjanidze) also made a fantastic serve. We planned to score like that, so it’s good that it worked out.”

Fortune smiled and pretended not to know what was being talked about when asked about the blocks he had made.

It was also the first time this season that Atlanta United had managed to win after conceding the first goal, making the score 1-8-4.

Valentino said he talked to the players about the need to stay emotionally calm during games, which may have helped the team after falling behind against Columbus. Team psychologist Ben Freakley talked to the players during practice Friday, and Valentino talked to them again at halftime Saturday.

“I like to talk about their mentality, their situation as people and their perspective in that sense, I talk about it a lot, but we talked about it at halftime because we were losing the game, but I think we played really well,” Valentino said. “Call me crazy, but defensively we were really solid, we only gave up one chance, and (Columbus) scored, which sucks. But at the same time, I let (the players) talk and we talked about it and how it wasn’t great, but now we’re down by one goal, so what are we going to do, what’s the bounce back going to look like?”

It will be important to execute set pieces and stay mentally sharp because with last night’s win, combined with other results, Atlanta United enters the Leagues Cup portion of its schedule above the playoff line in ninth and final place.

The Five Stripes are one point ahead of tenth-place Philadelphia and two points ahead of eighth-place Toronto.

Atlanta United has nine games remaining. Of those nine games, six will be against teams that occupy one of the 18 playoff spots. Atlanta United is 4-9-3 against teams above the line this season.

Atlanta United’s next league match will be against the LA Galaxy, who have 49 points and are competing for the Supporters’ Shield, on August 24.

Atlanta United could have reinforcements by then.

The transfer window is open and Atlanta United has over $50 million to spend. Atlanta United has signed a new player, Pedro Amador. Reports suggest the club is looking for attacking midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk, currently with Atalanta in the Italian Serie A, to replace Thiago Almada, who was sold for $21 million to Botafogo in Brazil. As for who the club is looking for to replace forward Giorgos Giakoumakis, who was sold to Celtic for $10 million, that remains a mystery.

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Atlanta United 2024 Schedule

February 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in US Open Cup

May 11 DC United 3, Atlanta United 2

May 15 Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United 0

May 18 Atlanta United 1, Nashville 1

May 21 Atlanta United 0 (5), Charleston 0 (4) in US Open Cup

May 25 LAFC 1, Atlanta United 0

May 29 Atlanta United 3, Miami 1

June 2 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 2

June 15 Atlanta United 2, Houston 2

June 19 Atlanta United 1, DC United 0

June 22 Atlanta United 1, St. Louis 1

June 29 Atlanta United 2, Toronto 1

July 3 New England 2, Atlanta United 1

July 6 Real Salt Lake 5, Atlanta United 2

July 9 vs. Indy Eleven 2, Atlanta United 1

July 13 Montreal 1, Atlanta United 0

July 17 Atlanta United 2, NYCFC 2

July 20 Atlanta United 2, Columbus 1

July 26 vs. DC United in Leagues Cup, 7:30 p.m.

August 4 against Santos Laguna in Leagues Cup, 4 p.m.

August 24 at LA Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.

August 31 in Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

September 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.

September 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.

September 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

September 28 in Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

October 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

October 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

October 19 in Orlando, 6 p.m.